A Story You Know, Told with Footage You’ve Never Seen

Neil Armstrong in "Apollo 11"
Photo Credit: Neon CNN Films

Back in October, director Damien Chazelle gave audiences the thrilling and emotional biographical drama, “First Man,” which chronicled Neil Armstrong’s journey of getting to the moon.  It was one of the best films of 2018 and wasn’t your typical inspirational biopic, but something deeper and more engaging.

Now, director Todd Douglas Miller tackles this subject in his documentary, “Apollo 11.”  Just as “First Man” went a different route with how it presented its biographical subject matter, Miller’s film chooses a different way to present his documentary, and it’s all the better for doing so.

The main thing that sets this documentary apart from others is that it doesn’t feature any interviews or narration, but consists of just archival footage.  By doing so, the movie has a flow as we go from one aspect of the moon landing to the next, without any interruption in the buildup and unfolding of the events. 

One of the most astounding aspects of the movie is how crisp a lot of the remastered footage looks, providing a clarity to it that makes it seem like it was filmed not too long ago, despite the moon landing taking place almost 50 years ago.

The sweeping shots of the people watching the takeoff from afar reflect our amazement of watching this historic event take place, and by the time we’re in the last 10 seconds before the rocket launches, there’s a thrill that permeates throughout the theater that makes you want to count down out loud.  Then, as you witness the space shuttle ascend and get ready to pierce the sky, you feel a sense of pride at this start to a world-changing journey.

Throughout the movie, Miller displays countdowns for certain points in the shuttle’s mission to and from the moon, such as when it prepares to lift off and when it gets ready to reenter Earth’s atmosphere, but one of the most effective uses of these countdowns is during the sequence when Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin are piloting the command module to the moon’s surface.  This sequence lasts for a few minutes as we see the countdown as to when the module will land, as well as the decrease in altitude.

A terrific score by Matt Morton accompanies the movie and will help get your heart rate going as you witness this scientific achievement take place.  It’s a score that makes you feel as though you’re on a rare kind of adventure, which is what helps make this music fit so well with what you’re watching.

Miller’s innovative approach to formatting this documentary provides a wondrous look into this monumental undertaking, showing the footage in such a way that makes you feel in the moment of these events as you see the hard work of the astronauts and mission control and the excitement of the crowds as they gather to observe and celebrate the space shuttle’s launch.

“Apollo 11” is a movie that’s both an enriching history lesson and an invigorating moviegoing experience, and as you watch it, you’ll be over the moon with awe.

Grade: A